Carmelo Anthony Rumors: 10 Teams He Could Go to and How He'd Fit in
The Summer of 2010 has come and gone in the NBA and all eyes now turn to Carmelo Anthony.
The big-name free agents everyone had eyes on have all signed, and now that Miami is in position to have way more fun than anyone else, teams around the league are left looking for answers as to how to beat the Heat.
Fortunately for some, 2011 will be the Summer of Carmelo. Over the last couple of weeks, it has become clear that Anthony does not intend to return to Denver. While many believe he will head to Gotham, if we learned anything this summer, it is that no deal is a done deal.
Here are 10 places you may see 'Melo in 2011.
10. Denver Nuggets
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Would it be so far-fetched to think Carmelo might re-sign with the Nuggets?
Denver knows their core group of guys is getting up there in age. If they want to make a run, now is the time, and inking Carmelo to an extension is vital to them making that run.
Although it seems the superstar wants out now, for the right figure I am certain he would stick around the Mile High City.
9. Houston Rockets
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The Rockets are looking to get into the mix for one of these stars possibly on the move.
However, Houston does not have the free money to outright sign Anthony, so they would have to work out a sign-and-trade.
If Houston were to trade for Anthony, they would likely have to give up a key piece such as Aaron Brooks, so it will be a real question of just how good would the Rockets be if they had to let go of two or three potentially very good basketball players just to get Carmelo.
I just don’t see this one being a fit.
8. Orlando Magic
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The Magic began tossing their hat into the ring, especially when Chris Paul declared his desire to leave.
Since Hedo Turkoglu left, the Magic have been in need of a perimeter player who can take over the game. Vince Carter was clearly not the answer.
With the contracts of Carter, Rashard Lewis, Mickael Pietrus, and J.J. Redick on the books, Orlando could possibly put together an enticing offer that would be interesting to Denver while still freeing up the money to sign 'Melo.
Adding Anthony would create an inside-outside combination with Howard that would rival Bryant and Gasol in L.A.
7. New Jersey Nets
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Mikhail Prokhorov is still looking for his chance to make a splash in the NBA owners' pool.
He put up his billboard across from MSG in New York, but nothing would stick it to the Knicks more than bringing in Carmelo.
If the Nets could find a way to package a deal for Anthony and build a nucleus around him and Lopez, they would have a situation where Carmelo is the clear alpha dog and Lopez a more than serviceable No. 2.
The Nets would immediately jump from out of the playoffs to a top five team in the East.
6. New Orleans Hornets
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New Orleans has to do something. They promised Chris Paul they would. If the Hornets don’t make a move soon, you are going to see the most disgruntled star since that lady who beat down a McDonald’s window to get her McNuggets.
The addition of Trevor Ariza is nowhere near enough to put the Hornets over the hump, and it does not seem feasible that they could put a deal together to bring Anthony in.
If they are able to, the duo of Paul and Anthony would be probably the only group that could compete with the Heat on a nightly basis, but I just can’t see it happening.
5. Cleveland Cavaliers
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Dan Gilbert has to put his money where his mouth is, and he has a lot to spend now that LeBron is gone.
Gilbert made a point to say that the Cavs would win a title before LeBron and the Heat, and an Anthony signing is probably the only way they can make that happen.
What better way to show up James than to sign the player they passed on to draft him, and win a title with the team LeBron couldn’t win one with?
However, if Anthony signed in Cleveland, he would find himself in the same spot James did, as a superstar on a team of subpar role players.
4. Los Angeles Clippers
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Donald Sterling tried to get involved in the free agent race of 2010, but just couldn’t make it happen.
The Clips have a good young nucleus of players that they could package into an enticing trade that could convince the Nuggets to part with Carmelo.
Unfortunately for the Clippers, very few players want to come play for their much-maligned owner. However, a base of Blake Griffin and Anthony could spell a dynasty with the right pieces around it.
3. Los Angeles Lakers
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If any team could weasel their way into Carmelo, it would be the Lakers.
The only way this would be possible is a trade involving Bynum and Barnes—plus another piece. The Nuggets are not likely to let Carmelo get away within the conference, let alone to the team that has won back-to-back titles.
If the Lakers put together a trio of Kobe, Carmelo, and Pau, the NBA could cancel the rest of the regular season and just let Miami and LA play each other 82 times, and I’d be happy.
2. Chicago Bulls
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Chicago is a very intriguing landing spot for Carmelo.
The Bulls could ship Deng and Taj Gibson to Denver along with maybe one more piece and all of a sudden you have a lineup featuring Derrick Rose, Carmelo Anthony, and Carlos Boozer out there every night.
I would wager that lineup would be just as good if not better than Miami because the pieces fit together a little better. The Bulls would immediately become a title contender, and would likely be 1b. to Miami’s 1a. in the East.
1. New York Knicks
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The preordained spot for Carmelo to land is in the Big Apple. James Dolan failed to wow fans by only signing one big free agent this summer, which is dangerous considering the Knicks mortgaged a couple years of their franchise with the promise of making a big splash in the summer of 2010.
If the Knicks cannot get Anthony, there is a distinct possibility you see Knick fans begin to migrate to Brooklyn when the Nets arrive.
If the Knicks can acquire him, the duo of 'Melo and Amar'e becomes a formidable force in the East but still may not be enough to get past Miami. They would likely need one more piece.
But if anyone actually NEEDS Carmelo, it’s the Knicks.
